Plaxico Burress- does this make any sense?

[underpants]

Okay so Plaxico was carrying a gun and it went off in November of last year. I am NOT trying to downplay that as it is a serious offense in NYC

Now his court case has been moved back to September of this year and they probably won't really begin until sometime in the Spring of 2010

Plaxico Burress Case Pushed Back Again
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1847551/plaxico_burress_case_pushed_back_again.html?cat=14

Are the courts really that backed up?
OR
Is he being strung along by his lawyers?

I can't believe that most people caught for this in NYC have to wait that long.

Hell Donte Stallworth was wasted-drunk and KILLED A HUMAN BEING in March (3 months ago)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/06/16/ap6549538.html
and he plead guilty yesterday with "some time" to be served, probation, and an undisclosed settlement with the Reyes family

What the hell?

[babylonsister]

1. Maybe his lawyers are dragging their heels because they know

he has a cell waiting for him? :shrug:

I know the Giants no longer care, and with this case hanging like this, I wonder if he's even got any other offers.

[lxlxlxl]

2. delaying cases are 80% of what lawyers do...

most lawyers drag cases on as long as possible. i dont know why, but this is what they do.

[vadawg]

3. yup, probuably hoping the DA gets fed up with all the motions and takes a lesser plea

or it could be his lawyers are stringing it out for the publicity, who knows.

[Johonny]

5. I believe that's what is going on

The plea deal they offered originally was rejected, I imagine they are hoping to get a deal more to the liking of their Client who doesn't want to spend any time in jail.

[imdjh]

9. Because it works, even for the little guy.

I found out in my teens that the smartest thing you can do (on your own no less) is to wait until the last minute and then get your traffic court date moved. Then you wait until the enxt one comes up and move it again. Each time you do this, you increase the chance that the cop won't be there when you actually go to court.

[vadawg]

10. lol in our court you have to have a real good reason to have it moved

and personally if i feel you are playing that game i make it my mission in life to make sure im in court for your appearance, theres nothing i hate more than someone trying to outsmart the court over a simple ticket, it wastes everybodies time. Good luck though in whatever jurisdiction you get away with it.

[imdjh]

11. I would love to be a traffic court judge. Fun stuff happens inbetween the mundane

First off, I discovered this trick legitimately- I was supposed to be in the hospital for two weeks and ended up staying for two months due to complications. Second, it was far from a simple traffic ticket; it was exhibition speeding 50+ over.

But there is also a flip side. I had many visits to traffic court in my youth. One day, I was there for a ticket for a truly minor infraction, merging left to get out of a right turn only lane. My defense was there was that unless one was familiar with the situation there was no way to merge left (due to tight commuter traffic) before one was in the right turn only lane without simply stopping right at the sign that says, "Lane ends merge left". The cops were set up in a gotcha style, where the working cop would actually jump out from the bushes and wave you on to a side street to get your ticket. So I am sitting in court. A case gets called, and no cop. The defendant is told to wait, a cop assures the judge that Officer X will be there soon. Judge hears more cases and another case comes along, same thing. It's becoming clear that about 15 of us in the court room are all from this one cop who hasn't shown up. After the LUNCH BREAK, this all starts over again, and we wait about another hour. Finally the judge says, "Everyone here who has a citation from Officer X please stand. Your cases are dismissed." Annoyed perhaps, but relieved we start to gather our things, when one woman says loudly to the judge, "No. This isn't right. I have taken today off from work, and lost pay. I want my day in court so I can tell you what happened there." The judge, who appears to be legitimately understanding, asks her what she has to say. We all sit back down. So she tells him pretty much what I have told you, except she adds in some of the officer's attitude (I don't remember any attitude other than not being interested in the reality of the situation). The judge thanks her, turns to the ranking police officer and tells him that unless Officer X is in the hospital, he is to present himself to the judge by end of day.

[MidwestTransplant]

4. He has a right to a speedy trial. If it's this slow, no doubt it's his team slowing it down.

[meegbear]

6. Part lawyers drawing it out ...

and with your example, firing an illegal gun and DUI/vehicular homicide are two different levels of severity.

[Bennyboy]

7. Billable hours, Rich client...

Pretty simple.

[imdjh]

8. It would appear that the difference is that Plaxico is something of a piece of shit

Looking at the Plaxico and Donte (neither of which had I ever heard of before now) articles on WIKI, it would appear that Donte is a person who made a mistake (very common "It's morning so I must be OK to drive by now.") and who stopped his car and did the right thing. Plaxico, on the other hand, appears to be a time bomb. Even though I support the Second Amendment, his having a cocked gun in the waistband of his sweatpants is just stupid.